Axial component of magnetic field anywhere by a straight solenoid: An

application of solid angle concept

Fulin Zuo
Department of Physics
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33124

Abstract

Magnetic field along the axial direction for a straight solenoid at an arbitrary point is shown to be

directly proportional to the solid angle subtended by the current carrying surface. The result is true

anywhere, i.e. on the axis or off-axis, for a finite or an infinite solenoid as long as it is straight and the

current density is uniform. The geometrical relationship is applied to several special situations where

surprising results are easily obtained and discussed.

I. Introduction

Calculation of magnetic field produced by an infinitely long straight solenoid is a standard example in

the physics curriculum for undergraduate science and engineering majors [1-2]. There are several ways to

prove that the magnetic field B inside an infinitely long solenoid is uniform. A common presentation is to

construct a rectangular loop with one side along the axis and the other parallel side far away so field

there is zero, and Ampere’s law is applied to derive the magnetic field B at the center or anywhere

inside to be given by 𝐵𝐵 = 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛, where 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 is the free space permeability and n is the number of turns per

unit length and I is the current. However, the assumption of zero magnetic field far away is not always

convincing and students are often more satisfied when the B field on the axis is calculated directly by
 integrating the contributions of a stack of rings. The result can then be used backward to deduce that

the field is uniform inside and zero outside.

The exact calculation of magnetic field inside an infinite long straight solenoid has been presented by

several authors[3-6] where it has been shown analytically that B is only along the axis direction and has

the magnitude of 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 for infinite long solenoid. The infinite limit is critical since it enables the

symmetry argument such that only the axial component remains. For finite solenoids, magnetic field can

be expressed in terms of two one-dimensional integrals to evaluate the axial and radial components.

While the integrals can be done numerically [7-11], the expressions look complicated and one is easily lost

in the details of calculations.

II. Results

The magnetic field B due to any current distribution can be calculated by applying Biot-Savart’s law. For

solenoid of circular cross section, the field at the center can be derived easily, as can be found in many

introductory physics books. However, finding the B field off-axis becomes an impossible task for most

undergraduates. Rather than repeating the published work in terms of integrals for the two

components[3-6], I show here that the magnetic field component along the axis direction Bz can be

constructed using the solid angle concept, at arbitrary points for a finite or an infinite straight solenoid.
The advantages of this approach are two folds: A) It is geometrically intuitive; B) The integral can be

simplified in terms of calculations of solid angles subtended by the flat open faces.

Fig. 1. Magnetic field at a point P due to an infinitesimal surface current KdS. The axial
component is proportional to the solid angle dΩ .

�⃗dS, K is the surface current density flowing in the x-y plane

Consider an infinitesimal surface current 𝐾𝐾

(K=nI for a solenoid, n is the number of turns per unit length, I is the current in the wire) and dS is the

area, as shown in Fig. 1, the magnetic field contribution at a point P at a displacement –r away is given

�⃗𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑×(−𝒓𝒓)
𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
�⃗ =
by 𝑑𝑑𝐵𝐵 , the z-component of the field is given by
4𝜋𝜋 𝑟𝑟 3

�⃗ ))∙𝑧𝑧̂ �⃗
𝜇𝜇 �𝐾𝐾𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑×𝑧𝑧̂ �∙(𝑟𝑟̂ )
�⃗ ∙ 𝑧𝑧̂ = 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 (𝐾𝐾𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑×(−𝑟𝑟̂
𝑑𝑑𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = 𝑑𝑑𝐵𝐵 = 4𝜋𝜋𝑜𝑜 , (1)
4𝜋𝜋 𝑟𝑟 2 𝑟𝑟 2

�⃗𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 × 𝑧𝑧̂ = 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝑛𝑛�, eq.1 can be re-expressed by

By recognizing 𝐾𝐾

𝜇𝜇 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 𝑛𝑛�∙𝑟𝑟̂ 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾

𝑑𝑑𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = 4𝜋𝜋𝑜𝑜 𝑟𝑟 2
= 𝑑𝑑Ω (2)
4𝜋𝜋

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑛𝑛�∙𝑟𝑟̂
Here we have made use of the definition of solid angle 𝑑𝑑Ω = 𝑟𝑟 2
.

The total magnetic field in the z direction is thus simply proportional to the solid angle subtended by the

current carrying surface

 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = ∫ 𝑑𝑑Ω = Ω𝑡𝑡 (3)
4𝜋𝜋 4𝜋𝜋

It is important to note that the result in eq.3 is only true for a straight solenoid with a constant surface

current density K. We consider a few simple applications of this geometrically appealing result:

(i) For an infinitely long straight solenoid, the solid angle for any point inside is the full value of 4𝜋𝜋. In fact,

the shape of the solenoid is no longer limited to circular cross section[3-6]. For a solenoid of any cross

section, as long as it is straight and uniformly extended to infinite, it will generate the same uniform

magnetic field! The direction of the magnetic field along the axis is a result of symmetry for infinite system.

This can be seen by considering the solenoid wall consisting of a large number of strips of infinitesimal

width with current going across it but of infinite length in the axial direction. Because of the infinite extent,

every point can be considered as the center of the strip, which will result in a net field along the z-axis

direction. Contributions from all strips simply add in magnitude, regardless of the shape of the cross

section. Since the solid angle covers the whole space, this leads to the well-known result, i.e. 𝐵𝐵 = 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 =

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 = 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛.

Fig. 2. Uniform magnetic field Bz at the surface of semi-infinite solenoid of arbitrary cross
section. On the outside of the solenoid Bz=0 at z=0, Bz>0 for z>0 and Bz<0 for z<0.

(ii) An interesting case is that of a semi-infinite solenoid, as depicted in Fig. 2. On the top surface of a

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
semi-infinite solenoid of any cross-section, the z-component of the magnetic field is given by 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 =
2
regardless of the position. This is because the solid angle for any point on the open surface is half of the

full value 4𝜋𝜋. The result appears surprising at first sight but it becomes obvious if one considers one

infinite solenoid as formed by two semi-infinite solenoids, the total z-component should be simply 2Bz

and thus half of the magnitude of the infinite one. However, it should be noted that magnetic field in

this case carries a significant in-plane component.

(iii) A rather surprising result for the semi-infinite case is that on the surface coinciding with the open

end of semi-infinite solenoid, where the solenoid extends to infinity in z<0 directions, the z component

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
of magnetic field outside of the solenoid drops abruptly to zero from inside, i.e. Bz=0 at z=0, leaving
2

only horizontal field component.

(iv) The same half space solid angle can be used to obtain the field due to a flat and infinitely large

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
current carrying sheet to be , which is usually derived by applying Ampere’s law. The infinitely large
2

flat current sheet can be viewed as half of a solenoid of infinite radius with solid angle of 2𝜋𝜋. If two large

sheets are carrying currents in opposite directions, the magnetic field in between is uniform with

magnitude of 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 and zero outside, just like a long solenoid.

In the case of a finite solenoid of length L and radius R, consider the solenoid to be placed parallel to the

z-axis and with the two faces at z=0 and at z=L. Since the expression for Bz component in eq.3 is true

everywhere, the solid angle subtended by the current carrying surface can be expressed in terms of solid

angles subtended by the open surfaces at the end of solenoid. The total solid angle subtended by a

closed surface is zero if the point is on the outside, and 4𝜋𝜋 if inside. We discuss a few special cases

here: The most familiar one is the magnetic field on the z-axis due to a circular solenoid, as shown in Fig.

3. Here Bz is the total field because of the cylindrical symmetry. For points above the solenoid (z>L),

the total solid angle is zero, the solid angles subtended by the top and bottom surfaces Ω1 = 2𝜋𝜋(1 −
 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
cos 𝜃𝜃) and Ω2 = 2𝜋𝜋(1 − cos 𝛼𝛼), respectively. The field is given by 𝐵𝐵 = 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = (Ω1 − Ω2 ) =
4𝜋𝜋

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
(cos 𝛼𝛼 − cos 𝜃𝜃).
2

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
For points on the axis but inside the solenoid 𝐵𝐵 = 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = (4π − Ω1 − Ω2 ) = (cos 𝛼𝛼 + cos 𝜃𝜃).
4𝜋𝜋 2

Note both angles should be acute angles measured from the z-axis.

Fig. 3. Magnetic field on the axis due to a finite solenoid.

For points off axis, it is useful to separate the whole space into two zones. Zone 1 is for space above or

below the solenoid (z>L or z<0). Zone 2 is the region in between 0<z<L, or in the same layer as the

solenoid.

In zone 1, one of the two solid angles subtended by the open surfaces is negative since we define the 𝑛𝑛�

always pointing outward and normal to the surface, i.e. 𝑛𝑛� ∙ 𝑟𝑟̂ < 0. In general, the expression of the solid

angle is complicated, especially when the surface is not a simple conical surface. For a flat surface, it can

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑛𝑛�∙𝑟𝑟̂ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑧𝑧̂ ∙𝑟𝑟⃗

be simplified to 𝑑𝑑Ω = 𝑟𝑟 2
=± 𝑟𝑟 3
. Consider a point P(x,y,z), the magnitude of the solid angle

subtended by a circular cross section of radius R ( at height z’=0 or z’=L) with z>L can be easily calculated

numerically using
 �𝑧𝑧−𝑧𝑧 ′ �𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥 ′ 𝑑𝑑𝑦𝑦 ′
Ω=∬ 3 , integrating over the surface area of 𝑥𝑥′2 + 𝑦𝑦′2 ≤ 𝑅𝑅 2.
[(𝑥𝑥 ′ −𝑥𝑥)2 +(𝑦𝑦 ′ −𝑦𝑦)2 +(𝑧𝑧 ′ −𝑧𝑧)2 ]2

Since one of 𝑛𝑛� ∙ 𝑟𝑟̂ < 0, the field is proportional to the difference of the two solid angles subtended by

the top and bottom faces.

In zone 2 the solid angles subtended by the two faces are both positive, i.e. 𝑛𝑛� ∙ 𝑟𝑟̂ > 0. For points inside

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
the solenoid (r<R, 0<z<L), the axial component is 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = (4𝜋𝜋 − Ω1 − Ω2 ).
4𝜋𝜋

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾
For points outside the solenoid but still in zone 2 (r>R and 0<z<L), it is given by 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = − (Ω1 + Ω2 ).
4𝜋𝜋

In another word, the magnetic field in this region always has a negative component, as shown in Fig 4.

For a semi-infinite solenoid as mentioned earlier, zone 2 is the half space for z<0, thus Bz<0 for z<0,

Bz>0 for z>0, and Bz=0 at z=0, as schetched in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. Solid angles outside of a solenoid

Since Bz is only dependent on the solid angles, some qualitative corollaries can be inferred. For example,

one can discuss qualitatively how magnetic field varies outside a finite solenoid, especially at half height

level z=L/2. Because of the symmetry, the field will have only z-component at z=L/2. Since B=Bz(z=L/2)

only depends on the solid angle, some quatitative conclusions can be discussed such as the distance
 dependance, which has been studied in some recent papers via magnetic scalar potential analysis or

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅2

numerical simulations[9-11]. For example, at r=R and if L/R>>1, 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 = − 2Ω1 ≈− for points
4𝜋𝜋 2𝜋𝜋 (𝐿𝐿/2)2

right outside the solenoid at z=L/2. The expression is the same as obtained by Farley et al. [11], albeit via a

𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅2 𝑧𝑧̂ ∙𝑟𝑟̂ 𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅2 𝐿𝐿/2

solid angle approach here. At points far away r>>L, Ω1 ≅ 𝑟𝑟 2
= , this leads to 𝐵𝐵 = 𝐵𝐵𝑧𝑧 =
𝑟𝑟 3

𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝐾𝐾 𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅2 𝐿𝐿
− . This is the field due to a magnetic dipole with magnetic moment given by 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝑅𝑅 2 𝐿𝐿 at points
4𝜋𝜋 𝑟𝑟 3

perpendicular to the dipole, as is expected. Because Bz depends only on the solid angle, one can envision

arrays of solenoids with the same Ω𝑡𝑡 to yield the same off-axis field at a given point.

Calculation of Bz is important as it is often the component of interest. For example, only Bz is needed in

the case of calculating magnetic flux going though a loop normal to the axis.

The Bz component calculation presented here also applies to the field due to cylindrical bar-like magnets

where the surface current density is simply proportional to the magnetization. It should be noted,

however, the calculation presented here is only true for straight solenoid. It does not apply to non-

straight solenoid such as cone shaped solenoid, or loosely wound spirals where field profile is much

more complicated.

III. Conclusion

In summary, I have demonstrated a simple geometrical relationship between the axial component of the

magnetic field and the solid angle subtended by the current carrying surface at arbitary points due to a

straight solenoid of constant surface current denisty and uniform cross section. The solid angle is a very

intuitive and useful concept when considering any type of flux, such as electric flux or magnetic flux,

especially for science and engineering students. The geometrical relationship obtained also enables one

to calculate numerically the axial component for a finite solenoid with ease.
Acknowledgements

The author wants to thank many colleagues in the physics department for useful discussions.

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Figure Captions

Figure 1: Magnetic field at a point P due to an infinitesimal surface current KdS. The axial component is

proportional to the solid angle dΩ.

Figure 2: Uniform magnetic field Bz at the surface of semi-infinite solenoid of arbitrary cross section. On

the outside of the solenoid Bz=0 at z=0, Bz>0 for z>0 and Bz<0 for z<0.

Figure 3: Magnetic field on the axis due to a finite solenoid.

Figure 4: Solid angles outside of a solenoid.